Hipparchia statilinus

Iron Colored Samtfalter ( Hipparchia statilinus )

The iron -colored Samtfalter or the little rust binding ( Hipparchia statilinus ) is a butterfly of the family of Julia Butterfly.

Features

The length of the forewings is about 22 to 28 millimeters. Color and size of the moth are quite variable. The wings of the nominate Hipparchia statilinus spp. statilinus are dark brown almost solid color on its upper side. Near the outer edge of the front wing, there are two black ocelli, between these two smaller white. The subspecies onosandrus Fruhstorfer is larger and has large white dots in the eye patch. The lower wing is more marbled with a light gray medium and dark gray Submarginalbinde. In some areas (for example, central Italy ), the underside of the hind wings is nearly uniform dark brown.

The clay-yellow, finely velvety hairy caterpillar has five equally broad, dark longitudinal stripes, a brownish head and red stigmas.

The doll has long brown elytra.

Similar Species

Hipparchia fatua, which is found from Macedonia to Asia Minor, is greater: the length of the forewings is about 30 to 34 millimeters. Prior to the edge of the hind wings there is an arc- shaped line. The underside is brown scaly and fine dashed lines.

Lifestyle and dissemination

The iron -colored Samtfalter flies in Central Europe from July to September, the females appear about 14 days after the males. The moth preferred sparse forests with sandy soil, as well as dry forest edges. They fly at the edge and in clearings of coniferous plants, where they contact preference in the middle of the path. In the small pine trees which crown the hill sonnbestrahlten the Riviera, one meets the butterflies in August sometimes with astonishing frequency.

The caterpillar lives on various grasses, such as Genuine sheep fescue ( Festuca ovina ), annual bluegrass ( Poa annua) and Haferschmielen ( Aira ). She lives in July, hibernates and pupates in the following year from May to July.

Early 20th century it was not uncommon in Central Europe, today announced its distribution is patchy and in places the species is extinct. In Germany only places in eastern Germany. The total distribution ranging from North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula, continental western and central Europe to the Baltic, through southern Europe with Sicily to southern Russia and the Middle East.